Vehicle-wheel.



S. H1 JENKINS.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

lAPPLICATION man oc.11,1913.

L275A35. f Patentedlug. 13, 191g 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

S. H. JENKINS.

VEHICLE WHEEL. A

APPLICATION FILED 0m11.191s.

Illlm Ulli?" Panted Aug. 13, 1918.y

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. ing

c mura sans SAMUEL H. JENKINS, 0F CHATTANOOGA., TENNESSEE, ASSIGNGR 0F ONE-FOURTH TO LOVRICK l. BARNES, OFCHATTANOOGA,

TENNESSEE.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rat-@atea aug; ia, reis.

To all ywhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. JENKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented certain .new and useful Improvements in Vehicle- Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is a wheel for vehicles in which the tread element of the tire'is supported by a pneumatic cushion.

A purpose of the invention is to provide an improved construction of wheel of this character in which the pneumatic cushion, or air tube, shall be fully protected from puncture.

A further purpose of the invention resides in the 'proyisionof a movable tire treadelement whereby upon the deflation of the pneumatic cushion from any cause, the tread element of the tire will be self-cushioning, thereby unimpairing the service of the wheel except for the reduced cushion effect result' rom the deflation of the pneumatic element.

Furthermore, the invention contemplates the provision of a series of removable tread ,members composing the tread element, so mounted upon a wheel, that they distribute the stress of compression circumferentially upon the pneumatic cushion, and iir the .event of the deflation of the pneumatic cushion will cooperate to retain the tire element of the wheel against collapse and render the wheel unimpaired except for the loss of the pneumatic cushion. These removable tread members are adapted to withstand lateral4 strain as well as the end to end strain, and provision is made whereby the interior portion ofthe outer cushions of the wheels and the pneumatic cushion are protected against injury by foreign matter.

In the protection of the pneumatic cushion or air tube, there is provided a series of solid cushion tread members for the tire,

1 and metallic guards provide a housing for the pneumatic tube or cushion, the tread members and metallic guardsv completely vprotecting the pneumatic cushion against block in outward and inward injury by objects vehicle wheels.

A further purpose of the invention is to produce an improved construction of vehicle wheel, adapted especially for motor vehicles, which embraces simplicity and economy of construction, as well as durability and safety in operation; providing the part's of all the wheels with similar structure, to permit of interchangeability of the parts, and also facilitate the quick repair in the event of accident, the series of removable tread members being so positioned on the parts of the wheel that they cooperate to relieve the cushion element or air tube from undue strain.

Vith these ends in view, the invention comprises a wheel having a felly, a plurality of plates adapted to be secured thereto, one of said plates being provided with a channel for receiving/a. pneumatic cushion, a series of wedging tread blocks movably mounted between` the plates and adapted to rest upon the pneumatic cushion, means whereby the plates permit the radial movement of the direction, means to limit the lateral movement of the block, and means wherebyforeign substances are prevented from entering through apertures adjacent the blocks and gaining access to the pneumatic cushion, or other parts of the device liable to be injured thereby, the series of blocks coperatingto sustain the tread element of the wheel in its normal pousually encountered by sition should the pneumatic cushion become deflated thereby permitting the continued travel of the vehicle without serious injury The invention consists also in the'combination, construction and arrangement of parts as will' be hereinafter morefully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claimsl One l l f l hrw-ed in ehe eeeoinimnying drawing. out l het line non s orY in 1li is im end View of one of the treed e re'eining @hid Y eoperaes wife e ellenneled plate of D'. 6 io 'orin housing i -r ix cushion elenien'- es well s l airiin 'bhe treed elenie 'i tive oesitions on the rire may oe used to lool: the

their adjusted posiion o ouio the paris of Wheel, seid der: sured to be placed on the or fece he b` The cerise-motion of the 'elly of die Wheel ngey or ineierred ly e. and terial.

The i2-elly l0 may clamped between :vo l; Y iire rei-Rini le'es illg l2? eine plete he wshor-:n in. igs @l e? d es subsmntielly @shaped in cross ieeion provided Wien e. rounded channel "portion fior ille reoepion of ihe pneuineie cushion eler' Jsire le. This channel Persien 123 is i semi-oval iu cross seetion :is s Jhes lL, r2? is pro- 'rideo illi u depemliiIV nge l5, `for lodgnieiilt agen und eng t. wilil lille iielly il,

may be clamped beiween e 'fel-ly een l." inezws oi holes lil/loi' oth seeuriri ineens?v passing f `@ugh bolli or s i i end the :este

y l the holes l@ being;

circumference of@ t Y ,v

provided with :i depending flange l.' l lj ellunuel lil,

e led eroe d one edge 'lio forni en erinulzir shoulder `le e round die opp 'sire ne wheeln his `meindell 'le forni en :me'iih un unverilly ei;-

er end thereof,

edge? or other mee o er or plaie ll e miler erm 1S provided tending llengl et libe np The plete l2 is preferably of e'thin sheet o meel and provided with e. lower curved shoulder adapied to fit securely against 2L rounded portion Z1 of the plaie l1, and provided also with en abutting shoulder Q2 to engage the shoulder l? of plate 11. rl`his plete l2 provided also with en inwardly extended circumferential flange :23, which is edepied lo he positioned substantially opposite to lelie lnnge 19 of the plete l1, the 'two plates ll and l2 when bellied 'to the elly es described, providing' a substantially U- fheped Channel in cross seeion, throughout le circumference of the Wheel.

es previously stated, Jdie pneumatic elegluent or air tube7 lei, is adapted to be posi# tioued `within the channel 'portion 13 of the member il, and so mounted therein, es te be free from Contact wiijh the sides of seid channeled poriionf, subsantielly as illustrated in Y. orined by the meinbers'or plates ll, there is adapted to be positioned, in edil lio'f mhe pneumatic eushion element or air lube L,' e series of treed blocks7 24e, forming :ee ire-ad surface of the tire proper. rhese reed blocks 2e ere adapted to be 'positioned n subeeniiel end to end engeeinem-i:I withY eeeh orber around the circumference of a wel, es shown in Fig. l, und to be 'elmnped r between die opposed inner surfaces oiithe en- O VT, 1

nulef plaies ll, l2, by any suitablel means, sue-h es ehe bolt pessrngehrough said.

end he intervening blocks, said bolts ereg suleiently frequent in the' circumfernee et? tie wheel es to retain the blocks in heir op retive position.- lt preferred to deploy i e of said bolts 25 for eeoli of the lllese bolts 25 are adapted to pass looks. liougl'i e transverse aperture *26 in the tire oloclrs, seid aperture 26 being illustrated in rerical see'ion an elongated slot, which is suitably reinforced by e metallic' thimble 2?, preferably of :i length slightly less than Vthe Widl of the tire blockerJ the aperture le izo if of Clamping' and Compression o'l when retained in place. rl"his be mede of :my suitable mete efud is preferably vulcanized into the nuie'riril lrho block lo reziin it in itiori. The lhiniole 27 is adapted to enlhe holla and relieve elle rire eleor hloeli 2% roni strain end Weer- Whiel; would eherwise be iiml'wosed thereon reason of elle engagemenf of the nieteriel of' elle bloel; with the boli; 25 when the reud member is moved to ils compressed polligt 3.

si llo-Wn 'in reed blocks ere preferably blocks fibrin ble tney plates 28 is preferably employed on each side of the block, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and if desired, these channel plates may be vulcanized into the material of the blocks.

These plates 28 are adapted to be engaged by the intu'rned flanges 19 and 23 of the annular plates 11,y 12, respectively, to' limit the movement of the tread blocks in both an inward and outward radial direction, the plates 28 taking up the wear and tear on the parts which would otherwise be imposed upon the material of the check block 24 by the flanges 19 and 23. These channeled Wear plates 28 are preferably made of less length than the tread blocks 24 to permit of the circumferential compression of the series of blocks When under the strain Which is liable t-o be imposed upon them should great stress be exerted upon the Wheel, or should the cushion element become damaged.

The lower section 29 of each of the tread blocks 24 is preferably of less Width than the upper section or tread section 30 thereof. It is preferred also to channel out this lower section as at 31, the series of tread elements forming a circumferential channel throughout the circumference of the Wheel when assembled to accommodate the upper portion of the pneumatic element 14, the channel 31 of the tread element, and the channel 13 of the larger plate 11, coperating to produce a substantially oval chamber' throughout the interior of the Wheel for the reception of the air tube.

There may be employed -on each face of the Wheel, resilient annularl plates 32, 33, which plates may be bolted to the Wheel structure by means of the bolts 25, these plates 32, 33, operating to cover a portion of the side faces of the tread block 24, and especially that portion of the block Whichis provided with the channeled retaining plate 28. These guard plates 32, 33, operate to prevent. the ingress of foreign substances, such as sand, grit and moisture, between the plates 11, 12, and the tread element and cushion element of the tire. These resilient guard plates 32, 33, serve also to limit the lateral movement of the tread block 24 with reference to the Wheel, thereby preventing the block from being torn from the Wheel structure when placed under stress as when rounding a sharp curve at high speed.

The tread'surface of each of the blocks 24 is preferably provided with one or more layersof fabric, such as ducking, indicated at 34, and the tread surface thereof may be provided also with any suitable non-skidding devices indicated at 35.

Each ofthe tread sections 24 is preferably arcuate in form, as shown in Fig. 5, and when. assembled upon a Wheel, the ends 36, 37, taper from the outer or tread surface toward the inner or channeled surface thereof, thereby forming a Wedge-shaped tread block'. Each of the blocks may be of the same size and shape and form topermit of interchanveability of the parts. Each of the tread tblocks 24 is shown provided with a cut out portion 38 and. an over-hanging portion 39. =The over-hanging portion 39 may be of any desired form and isV illustrated in igs. 1 and 5. These over-hanging flanges serve to prevent dirt, grit or other foreign matter from Working between the tire blocks and the Wheel passing over the ground. v

If desired, the pneumatic cushion element 14, may be covered by any suitable material, such as ducking indicated at 40, shown in the form of a tube or hose, to protect the cushion element .from coming in direct contact with the metal housing. This cover is split at 41 to permit of the ready expansion of the cushion or air tube 14 Whenl the Wheel is under compression.

It will be observed that by the employ-4 ment o-f a series of radially movable tread blocks, that vgreater traction Will be gained in the wheel, that all the advantages of the pneumatic cushion Will be available with the wheel, as Well as the advantages of the solid along the smooth inner'curved surface of i,

bthe metallic channel 13-thereby preventing a cutting or` binding of theparts with the metal structure, i the liability of injury to the air cushion.

Suitable means may be employed for in- Hating the air become injured in any manner, and permit of the loss of the air cushion, it will be obcushion. Should the air tube as Well as eliminating all l.

served that the wedge-shaped tread blocks 24 will coperate to distribute the stress circumferentially around the wheel, and that said blocks will bey maintained in their nor-l mal position by means of the bolts 25, the plates 11, 12, the guard plates 32, 33, Without injuring the -Wheel should the vehicle he continued on its journey Without the use of a pneumatic cushion or' tire 14. Moreover, this circumferential distribution of the fstrain by the strain upon the air cushionor tube, thereby reducing the liability of bursting the tube when placed under heavy strain or sudden compression, through contact with obstructions on the road surface.

the series of tread blocks, relieves Assuming that a. repair is necessary Yto some part of the Wheel, for instance the 'air cushion'element 147 the bolts 16 and 25 can be readily removed, permitting the removal of the smaller rim plate 12, whereupon the,

tread blocks 24 may-be lifted out of position to expose the air tube 14. After such repairs shall have been made, the tread blocks 24: may be leid e-ncl lo enel in lieiif noiinml position, enel .inn be bounel in iliie i;-oeiion by ay Suitable lool; ,elziining olninp shown in Fig. S. This @lmnp may be meile oi Slee-l ribbon, one enel of n'liieli being; lapei'ecl as et lei, wliilo llie einer end ine.;` be provided with a ionncle/l or liooliefl poition l5. The ribbogi niej. be pi'oi'idefl with any suitable ineens i'eleining lie ends together lo lool( lie ieml blocks in their oiiennifoi'entiel formation, @ne forni of suoli ine-ans is shown e5 the seuils adapted to pees liiongli eiiei'turee el? in eine ribbon, although any other suitable ineens niey be employee.

lite-1* tliie ribbon shell lievebeen secured to tlie lieecl bloele, the trend element may be lifted es e unil; anal placed in pos'iion on the iiin ilele ll, Willi the ietaining lil-Shaped. plete 28 en the flange 19 of the pleite l, plate l@ may be plzieefl in posnio' its flange engage lie ol taining pluie 2S, nnfl il may pees to ith ir previo upon olie wheel will be really li, ie obvious tliel Yniioue olie ign. inoclilieetione may be nin/le in lie slinoinie as elisoloeecl lieiein, but the iight lo melee suoli changes and elle ation i fairly fall Within the scope o' lie claims, is reserved.

Having clins described in); in Claim ne new7 enel fleeie lo tei-s Patent, ie:-

1. i Wheel provided Willi n cooperating i'iin plaies eileioieil lo Secured to the ielly of n Wheel eeen fini plneee being provided Wili in iineil lieiieoi',

lion, iklinlg f bi;

e in.

oi seid i li ielaining flanges el: lille upper eliges l; l :i pln'elity of Wedge-sliepen i'eiul oloelie positionecl` between Seial iin jpleee and nclnpecl lo move initially on llie iilieeb eecli of Said bloekej bei! j provided on enoli side tlieieo with channeled retaining ple/Les sub etnntielly U-sliepefl in erosie section, one umn of Wliioli is slioilei' .than ine. cil-lier lio ,ebnt egainel, tlie eide oi lt-lie ieepeelfive iini plm' when the lelnining flanges engage lelie Clieniiele-cl retaining platee, resilient gnniffl pl eilaptefl 'lo be )oei lonecl ngeineb l'lie i plates to cover the lll-shaped elninnaelecl retaining plates, enel ineens @aesinelliiong'li the 'creed blocks. lie Tini-plaies und ille ginii'cl platee to retain lie paille in oieizilive position.

2. A wlieel proi'irlecl Willi n nlinnliiy ol' coperating fini-plaies eilnpe to the elly Lliei'eol, e. ililnielity o Leped blocks poeiioned be'mi'een l plates encl aclepieil for refliel ino llie Wheel, @zich of Seid bloele l' vided with e olinnneleiil ieteinin i each Side 'dieren-, i-etnining ilenges Cmi'ieil by eeCli of Seial i'ini-plnee unil eiluiiteil o engage seid channeled plaies ol llie seirl l ile on blocks lio of 'inii i n( w e Seid iinvplnes and :iilzipeil to liinit the l'iinneveise inoifeinen ol? said trend blocks al: n point. beyond Jlie elninnelefl ieteining' plaies, eeil ginnicl plees lioneing llie clienneled ifelriining platee dering i'fnlinl moven menig, en@ menne lo i-etein elle ieeilient gneid pieles nini i'eel blocksl in position on alie Tini-pieles. l

3. il. n'lieel neovidefl willi plnielity oi" plete@ ailiiiliei'l lo be lo ine i'elljf i oi treuil blockeseeni'efl loi i'eiili: l inovenei between sai-.fl iini pleitenr e 'flange on enelrim plete co limit ille radial .movement of Seid trend blocks, and e eineninferenlizil gniele plete overlapping ezion iiin plaie unil operating to liini; ilieflyieneve/e-e. inovenienof lie lienfl t l. blocks, Seid guide plates being eeoniel e efiiel run plaie bv bolle Wliieli pees tliiongli plu ality of' pifwiilel Wiili e eibsenlielly l-shaped cliennel ineniliei: Jfoi' oopei'nlion Willi the 1 Seial rini plaies Serving 1S. end also to restrict elio ille ine i i l redini inoif'enieli of 'llie lli-engl elementsq bolts 'ng ihn-engi llie lois ofi ine 'ieefl elements lo ietei n tliein in 'llieii' opeaive position enel peiinie oi limited i'eilinl moveinent, and gnniil platee oopemling with Selci iiin pieles nncl ,ieacl elements lio prevent ti'eneveine iuiilnoement of lie treed elemente dining' tneiireiliel movements.

ifi nilieel i iovide Willi e plurality of eopeicnting iin nl ies ecleptefl lo be rigidly eeeni'esl lo the elly oi' e Wheel, each of lie asini plaies lieving e retaining' lienge nt the. onizei eilgee tlieieof. n. pnennnitie eleinenhn il sniiece coniioeecl of e plurality of e slieped ti'ezul bloelis positioned beween eeicl i'ini plaies and eileplefl to move "ielly lie wheel, Seid blocks beingfonipoeeil of ireeilient'nilileiiel eilepeil to inve liei enfle ebn; to pernii'e of circumei'eininl cliei'ibn'tion of lille elm-in among* emi blocks? ezieli of Said blocks being 'led on their Sides nml provided with en enibeflcleiil 7neliflio niembei', which is Subelenlielly U-Slinpefl in Cross section lo receive seid ietnining nungen, anal tlie outer eflg'ee of Wlieli l-elizipel nieinbei-S terminate elioi` oi coming fineli Willi the siilee of Snicl bloele allow foi' compression, exterior re- Secured so Y silient circumferential rim platea mounted to overlap the channel in said blocks, a plurality of bolts passing through the plurality of rim plates, and a tube oval in icrosssection and of less width than the blocks provided in each of said tread blocks to allow for compression and to receive said bolts and also to make a close and vatertightlit, said channeled metallic members 10 and bolts coperatng With the rim plates to limit the radial movement of said tread blocks in their inward and outward directions. and to also limit the radial movement of the tread blocks. A

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature; 15

in presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL H. JENKINS. 1i/Vitnesses:

Damm. R. FORBES, J. F. H. MOTHERSHEAD. 

